What’s Happening In Aleppo? Syrian City Witnesses More Fighting Despite Russia’s Ceasefire Claims

The Syrian government has resumed fighting in certain areas of besieged Aleppo after a brief humanitarian pause, rebel groups said Friday. Syrian soldiers backed by Russian warplanes have reclaimed about 75 percent of the war-ravaged city from rebel groups.

“Helicopters, warplanes and rocket bombardment like every day. Nothing has changed,” a Turkish-based official with the Jabha Shamiya rebel group told Reuters about what was happening in the city as of Friday morning.

He added that the rebels “are steadfast” despite the bombing.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said Thursday on-ground fighting persisted and warplanes bombed the city overnight. Meanwhile, the White Helmets rescue group reportedly added that 46 civilians were killed and 230 were left injured in east Aleppo on Thursday. The group alleged that three barrels of chlorine gas was dropped on the city.

Russia said Thursday that a humanitarian ceasefire has been imposed on Aleppo to allow civilians to flee the city. The Russian military said that as of Friday morning, nearly 8,000 civilians, including 3,000 children, fled from what was once Syria’s largest city and financial and industrial center.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his U.S. counterpart have had brief meetings Wednesday and Thursday on the sidelines of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe conference in Hamburg.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau told reporters: “They [John Kerry and Lavrov] agreed to continue discussions about establishing a framework for a ceasefire that will allow the delivery of aid, desperately needed humanitarian aid, as well as the safe departure of those who wish to leave the city.”

Lavrov said Thursday that military experts and diplomats will meet in Geneva Saturday to discuss rebel groups exiting Aleppo as well as civilians willing to leave the city.

In his Nov. 30 briefing to the United Nations Security Council, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien said: “For the sake of humanity we call on - we plead - with the parties and those with influence to do everything in their power to protect civilians and enable access to the besieged part of eastern Aleppo before it becomes one giant graveyard.”